Debt-Hit Families Give Up Healthy Food

A charity which runs a debt advice centre in Bath says the credit crunch is forcing people to eat less healthy food.

Research by Christians Agains Poverty suggests one in three people have turned their backs on healthy food in the last year.

The specialist debt counselling charityhas warned that people are now turning to cheap, processed foods because healthy products have become too expensive to buy.

CAP, which operates a centre in Bath in partnership with the Bath City Church, commissioned YouGov to carry out the research.

More than half of those questioned said their finances were now in a worse state than this time last year, with one in five stating that their finances were “much worse.”

The trend towards less healthy eating is most marked among 35 to 44-year-olds, with almost half saying their diet had deteriorated since last year.

In response, the charity has issued tips on how to cut down on food expense whilst still eating healthily, with recipes to feed a family of four for pounds4 which it has posted on its website – www.capuk.org.

Christian Against Poverty centre manager in Bath, Rob Small, and his team of support workers are also increasing their efforts to support families on the breadline.

He said: “These results are truly shocking and evidence that we are slipping further into financial difficulty as a country.

“However, whilst many would concentrate solely on the impending crisis, we want to underline how there is a solution for those trapped by debt in the UK.

“Through our local centre in Bath we are able to offer hope and a solution to those struggling to make repayments and we are seeing people turn their finances around. With the right support, guidance and sound financial principles, people can avoid the worst excesses of this economic downturn and work their way out of debt.

“Over the past four years we’ve been able to help many people in the local community, but I’m very aware that so many more still need our help.

“I would urge anyone at all concerned about their finances to contact us, we work with all members of the community, regardless of faith.”